Percussion-fuse for explosive projectiles.



No. 807,006. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. H. WILSON & M. A. LYNCH.

PERCUSSION FUSE FOR EXPLOSIVE .PROJEGTILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23,1903- A .wgig

f/ H a ,I

UNITED s'rn rns PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY WiLsON AND MICHAEL A. LrNcn, OF WASHINGTON, msiuo'r OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS T UNITED S'IATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, A cOnPoRA'riON or VIR- GIN IA.

PERCUSSION-FUSE FOR EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed September 23, 1903. Serial No. 174.356.

To all w/wm it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, HARRY'WILsoN and MICHAEL A. LrNon, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Percussion Fuses for Explosive Projectiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description when taken in connection with the accompa- 1o nying drawings, which form a part thereof,

and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal diametrical section of our fuse, showing the various parts in their inactive position. Fig.'2 is a similar view showing the various parts in the position assumed during flight. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the various parts in the position assumed upon lateral retardation dur ing flight of the projectile. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line a aof Fig. 1. Fig. 5

is a detail perspective view of the firing-hammer during flight. Fig. 6 is a fragnicntal diametrical section showing a modified construction of the firing-hammer and the cen- 2 5 trifugal released securing means carried thereby. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the firing-hammer illustrated in Fig. 6 during flight. Fig. 8 illustrates still another modified construction of the firing-hammer and the centrifugal released securing means carried thereby. Fig. i) is a detail perspective View of the firing-hammer illustrated in Fig. 8 during flight.

Our invention relates to that class of fuses in which the percussion element is released only by centrifugal force such as is produced by the rotation of a projectile during flight and comprises improved meansi (a) forpreventing the cxplosion of the primer except upon retardation of the PI'OJOiitllG during flight when discharged from a rifled gun; (b) for normally securing the primer-exploding means in inactive position; to) for releasing said primer-exploding means during flight of the projectile; (d) for positively actuating the primer-exploding means upon a graze or lateral impact; (6) for maintaining the primer-exploding means released when centrifugal force ceases and in improved construction generally.

Referring to the drawings, A is the fusebogly having a powder magazine or chamber B, the igniting charge being retained therein by the wad C, which 1s secured in place by crimping the fuse-body thereon, said fusc' body having an annular recess A extending a short distance in its inner surface, and is beveled on its outer surface at A to produce a suitable thinness for the purpose of crimping.

D is a plug secured in the fuse-body, having a stem D, carrying the igniting cap or primer E, and erforated at D to permit the passage of the ame from the primer E to the magazine B.

F is a firing-hammer comprised of two segmental members F F, loosely secured together by-the bolt F which is of a length that its ends will constantly just touch the surface of the chamber of the fuse-body and has the enlar ed head F and the nut F The segmenta members F and F are provided with the counterbores F and F respectively. Interposed between the nut F and the base of the countcrbore F" is a spring F while a spring F of greater strength than the spring F is interposed between the base of the counterborc F and the head F The springs F and F normally keep the segmental members F and F firmly together, and

the spring F being of greater strength than,

the spring F the segmental 1nember F will always be heldagainst the surface of the fusebody chamber irrespective of the position of said fuse-body. The springs F and F can be so constructed as to have a limited comprcssion, and thus limit the transverse movement of the members F and F to prevent binding of said members against the wall of the fuse-body when the fly apart under the influence of centrifugal orce. The members F and F have integral therewith the flan es F and F respectively, the latter of which forms a centrifugally-relcased securing means normally locking the firing-hammer in safe position, the flange F abutting the stem D of the plu D and serving to normally look I the fir1ngammer against forward movement until said flange is moved transversely of the casing in unison with the member F and thereby passed out ofen gement with the stem D, thus rendering mer free to move fo'rwardupon impact for the purpose of-exploding theprin'ier. The

member F is provided with the right-angular extension F normally-covering the front face of the member F, said member F being of less len th than the member F to permit said mem ers to register throughout when assembled. The extension F carries the firin point F said firing-point being located a distance beyond the long axis of the face of the firing-hammer. Retained between the members F and F in suitable recesses on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the firing-hammer and parallel therewith are the cylindrical pieces F and F. It will thus be obvious that the fiange F normally abuts the stem D and the firing-point F is out of alinement with the primer E. When the rojectile is fired, however, and centrifugal force is set up in the members F and F, the member F remains firmly seated against the surface of the fuse-body chamber, the mem ber F flies out as far the wall of the fusebody chamber will permit or as far as the degree of compression of the springs F and F will permit, as the case may be, the flange F passes out'of engagement with the stem D, the firing-point F centers in the longitudinal axis of the fuse-body and alincs with the primer, the cylindrical pieces F and I be.- ing on opposite sides of the center fly outwardly in opposite directions, interpose themselves between the members F and F and permanently maintain said members in the position assumed under the influence of centrifugal force, and the firing-hammer is thus rendered operative with relation to the primer upon. retardation ofthe projectile during fli ht. I

It will be apparent that the flanges F and F can be dispensed with and the firing point abutting the stem D will normally retain the firing-hammer inactive. i

K is a plunger formed of two cylindrical pieces of metal K K having their abutting ends fastened by the soft metal strip K. The piece K is seated in the cylindrical recess A in the base of the fusebody. The piece K is provided at its outer end with a flange K,

extending to the wall of the fhse-body chamber and having a rounded or? curved periphcry K. v V

The position assumed by the parts of the fuse on lateral im act during flight 'is illustrated in Fi 3; he weights K and K being centered in the axis of the fuse and free to move under the influence of a lateral force only at their inner ends such force will cause said pieces to knuckle at that point and necessarily increase their combinedlongitudinal extent, thus forcing the firing-hammer forward and exploding the primer. The rounded eriphery K of the piece K serves to form a 'rictionless bearing during such operation.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 6 and -7 the segmental members of the firing-hammer are held together-by springs F and F" of equal strength, and the bolt F is of a length just equal to the short axis of the firing-pin when in its normal position. Both flanges F and F normally abut the stem D to maintain the firing-hammer inactive. In other respects the construction of the firing-hammer is similar to that heretofore described.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the firing-hammer is formed of two segmental members normally held firmly together in the manner heretofore described and having centrifugally-released securingilanges F and F normally abutting the stem D of the plug Secured centrallyf of the bolt F is a pin F terminating in the, firing-point F and normally lyin in the 1011-1 gitudinal grooves F and F in t e se mental members of the firinghammer. ring- D is inserted and secured by crimping in the stem D to partially cover the primer and is provided with an aperture or passage leading to the primer to constantly receive the firing-point F. In this construction the firing-hammer is constantly in line with the primer, but is normally held a ainst, contact therewith by the flanges F an' F, abutting the stem D and released by centrifugal force,

throwing said flanges out of engagement with the stem D".

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-. ters Patent, is

1. In a percussionafuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed members adapted to be moved transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, one of said members carrying a firing pin or point rigidly secured thereto and moving transversely therewith and centrifugally-released securing means normally holding the firing-hammer in its inactive position. 7

2. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, a firing-hammerformed of spring-compressed segments adapted to be moved transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, one of said segments carrying a firing-pin or point ri idly secured thereto and moving transverse y therewith and centrifugally-released securing means normally holding the firing-hammer in its inactive position.

3. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, means for su porting the primer in the. casing, a firingiammer formed of spring-compressed members adapt ed to be moved transversely of the casing under the influence of'centrifugal force, a firing pin or point carried by one of said members and moving transversely therewith and means carried by the members normally retaining the firing-hammer against forward movement by engagement with the primer-supporting means and adapted to telescope on said primer-supporting means I influence of centrifugal force, one of said upon impact when the members of the firinghammer have been moved transversely under the influence of centrifu al force.

4. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a. casing, a primer, means for supporting the primer in the casing, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed members adapted to be moved transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, a firing pin or point carried by one of said members and moving transversely therewith and a flange on one of said members normally retaining the firing-hammer against forward movement by engagement with the primer supporting means and adapted to telescope on said primer-supporting means upon impact when the members of the firinghammer have been moved transversely under the influence of centriii ll force.

5. In a percussion-tuse tne combination of a casing, a primer having a fixed position in the longitudinal axis of the fuse, a firing pin or point constantly at ri ht angles to the transverse axis of the fuse and out of aline- I charge for alining the nring pin orpoint with l the primer.

7. In a percussionfuse thecombination of a ousing, a primer, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed members adapted to be moved transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, one of said members carrying a tiring pin or point rig- .idly secured thereto and moving transversely therewith and securing means nm'mally looking thefiring-hammer in posit-ion and unlocked by the transverse movement of the members of the firing-hammer.

8. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed segments adapted to be moved transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, one of said sogmentscarrying a firing pin or point rigidly secured thereto and moving transversely therewith and securing means normally lock ing the fn'inghammer in position and unlocked by the transverse n'iovemeut of the segments of the tiring-hammor. I

i). In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed members adapt-ed to separate transversely of the casing under the members carrying a firing pin or point rig' idly secured thereto and moving transversely therewith and -entrifugally-released securing means normally holding the firing hammer in safe position. i

10. In a percussiomtuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, a firing-hanuner formed of spring-compressed segments adapted to separate transversely of the casing under the influence ot' centrifugal force, one of said seg ments carrying a firing pin orpoint rigidly secured thereto and moving transversely therewith and centrifugellyreleased .securing ineans normally holding the firing-hammer in safe position.

11. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, means for supporting the primer in the cas ng, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed members adaptedto separate transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, a firing pin or point carried by one of said members and moving transversely therewith and means carried by one of the members normally retaining the firing-hammer against forward movement by engagement with the primer-sup porting means and adapted to telescope on said primer-supporting means upon impact when the members of the firinghammer have separated under the influence of centrifugal force. 1

12. In a percussion-fuse, the combinz'ition.

of a casing, a primer, means for supporting the primer in the casing, a firing-hammer formed of s priug-compressed members adapted to separate transverselyof the casing un der the inffuence of centrifugal force, a firing pin or point carried by one of said members and moving transversely therewith and a flange on one of said members normally retaining the liring-lnmnner against forward movement by engagement with the primersupporting means and adapted to telescope on said primer-sopporting means upon impact when the members of the firing-hammer have separated under the influence of centrifugal force.

13. In a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing, a primer, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed members adapted to separate transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, one of said members carrying a firing pin or point rigidly secured thereto and moving transversely therewith and securing moans normally locking the firing-hammer in safe position and unlocked by the separation of the members of the firing-hennucr.

14. ln a percussion-fuse, the combination of a casing,-a primer, a firing-hammer formed of spring-compressed segments adapted to' separate transversely of the casing under the influence of centrifugal force, one of said seg V r amma menfis marrying a flying pm .01' point rigidly assured ahereto and moving transversely iherewith and securing means noi'mzxily looking the firing-hammer 131 safe position and unlocked by the separation of the segments 0f th firing-hammer.

in testimony whereof Wehave signed our names to this specification in the presence of two Witnesses. 1

-' HARRY -WILSON.

I MICHAEL A. LYNCH.

Witnesses:

S. J. BLOCK, E. H. I BLOCK. 

